Anaheim, CA -- (Sports Network) - John Thomson outdueled 10-game winner John Lackey in his season debut, as Kansas City downed the Angels, 5-3, in the first installment of a three-game series.

Thomson (1-0) won for the first time since donning a Braves uniform against San Diego on May 24, 2006. The right-hander gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over seven innings.

"Early, I stayed with my sinker and cutter. I wanted them to be aggressive, and then I expanded the zone," said Thomson. "This is my first start in the majors since before last year's All-Star Game so I'm really happy."

Lackey (10-5) was scheduled to pitch Sunday before shoulder tendinitis pushed the start back to Monday. He pitched five straight scoreless frames after a rough start through three innings. In total, Lackey surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts during eight innings.

No Royals had more than one hit or RBI in the club's second consecutive win after a four-game slide. Octavio Dotel threw five straight balls to start the ninth, but settled down to record his seventh save.

Vladimir Guerrero finished 2-for-4 with a double, while Howie Kendrick and Kendry Morales each scored and drove in a run for the Angels, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

The Royals jumped on Lackey for a four-spot in the second by playing small ball. Alex Gordon and Ryan Shealy hit consecutive one-out singles then Jason LaRue knocked in Gordon with a base hit to right. Joey Gathright was plunked by a pitch with two outs then David DeJesus' single chased home a pair of runners and Gathright sprinted all the way around from first after Guerrero's throw wasn't handled by Mike Napoli at the plate.

Guerrero made up for it with a leadoff double in the home half, moving to third on a groundout and scoring on Kendrick's sacrifice fly. Kansas City scrapped out a run the hard way in the next frame, as Billy Butler singled, advanced to second when Gordon was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a balk and scored on Shealy's grounder to third.

The Angels cut the deficit in half during the fifth frame. Kendrick drove a one-out single to center and came around to score on Morales' double to center. Morales moved to third on an error at the play's conclusion and scored on Napoli's sacrifice fly.

Guerrero, Casey Kotchman and Kendrick all represented the tying run in the ninth.

Game Notes

Thomson improved to 3-2 lifetime against the Angels...Lackey lost for just the second time in eight decisions...Guerrero's double was his 22nd of the campaign...Thomson went 2-7 with a 4.82 earned run average in 18 games (15 starts) last season with Atlanta...Attendance 43,895.